Here’s this holiday season’s most dangerous toys, according to CalPIRG Donor Specialist Cecilia Cruz preps San Bernardino County Facilities Management employee Michael Shuey, 33, of Redlands, to begin his blood platelets donation at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Friday, on the eve of the tragedy’s two-year anniversary, donors in San Bernardino explained why they give.

San Bernardino County Health Department WIC Program employee Kathy Van Vleet, 64, of Fontana, prepares to donate her blood platelets at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Blood products are donated to LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Donor Specialist Elizabeth Mayo works at her computer as she helps people donate blood product at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Retired Riverside County employee Chuck Curlee, 63, of Redlands, makes a blood platelets donation at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Blood product donors are given a commemorative “SB Strong” T-shirt at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Blood products are donated to LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Here’s this holiday season’s most dangerous toys, according to CalPIRG Donor Specialist Cecilia Cruz preps San Bernardino County Facilities Management employee Michael Shuey, 33, of Redlands, to begin his blood platelets donation at LifeStream in San Bernardino, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2017. LifeStream blood bank invited the community to pay tribute to the victims of the Dec. 2 tragedy by making a blood donation. (Photo by Rachel Luna, The Sun/SCNG)

Jasmine Mota, who lives in town, has worked at the LifeStream blood bank off Orange Show Drive for 14 years. She remembers how generous community members were with their blood in the wake of Dec. 2, 2015.

Mota said she gives blood three times a year. Family members of hers have needed transfusions to overcome personal tragedy, so “I know exactly what (blood) can do, how much it can help,” she said.

Don Escalante, a LifeStream spokesman, emphasized how imperative it is to donate before being prompted to by tragedy. People rush in in those situations, but the blood used to help stabilize victims is donated well ahead of time, he said.

“When people come in the day of or the day after (a tragedy), it’s to replenish what’s been given,” he added. “That’s a great service, but we wish we could harness that motivation year-round, because there’s always a possibility of an emergency.”

Robert Brooks of Cherry Valley was donating blood Friday, as he does every two weeks. The 56-year-old has blood anybody in need – kids battling cancer, burn victims, survivors of tragedy – can use.

Brooks’ stepdaughter was a case worker at Inland Regional Center on Dec. 2, 2015, but left the building early that day to tend to her daughter.

“When something like that hits close to home, it gives you another reason” to donate, Brooks said.

LifeStream has locations in San Bernardino, Riverside, La Quinta, Ontario and Victorville.

First-time donors must go through a one-time registration process. Shirts will be given to all.

“The shirts are a lure, a little extra ‘Thank you’ to the community for helping us bounce back from tragedy,” Escalante said. “But we hope the greater lure is to help people in need right now while commemorating those lost two years ago.”

More information can be found at lstream.org or by calling 800-879-4484.

Brian Whitehead covers San Bernardino for The Sun. Bred in Grand Terrace, he graduated from Riverside Notre Dame High and Cal State Fullerton. For seven years, he covered high school and college sports for The Orange County Register. Before landing at The Sun, he was the city beat reporter for Buena Park, Fullerton and La Palma.

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